Safety needle device with snap feature and method of making same

ABSTRACT

The present invention safety device is a one-piece needle assembly that has a base and a housing pivotally connected to the base. The base has a distal portion to which a needle is fitted. At the base there is formed longitudinally along its distal portion a catch mechanism that may be in the form of an anchor projection. At the back wall of the housing there is extended another catch mechanism that may be configured in the form of two clasping fingers. Also providing in the housing is an integral hook. As the housing and the base are pivoted relative to each other, and as the needle makes contact with the hook, the respective catch mechanisms at the base and the housing also make contact with each other, resulting in the coupling of the catch mechanisms and the coupling of the needle to the hook. As a result, the catch mechanisms are interlocked and the needle is fixedly retained by the hook within the housing. The catch mechanisms may also be configured as a hook and a latch in the form of a rib with an opening whereto the hook is fixedly coupled. The catch mechanisms may further be configured as respective interlockable pairs of loops and bosses. The gauge of the needle may be determined by the color of both the base and the housing, which are molded as a unitary single unit.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to application Ser. No. 11/029,391filed on Jan. 6, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to needle protection devices and moreparticularly to a needle assembly, adaptable to be used with a syringe,that includes mechanisms at its base and housing that coact tonon-removably retain the housing and the base in a secured relationship,at the same time that the needle of the assembly is being fixedlysecured by a hook mechanism in the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Needle protection devices that utilize a housing that pivots relative tothe base are exemplified by a number of U.S. patents assigned to theassignee of the instant application. These include U.S. Pat. Nos.4,982,842, 5,139,489, 5,154,285, 5,232,454, 5,232,455, 5,277,311 and5,423,765, among others. There are other patents also assigned to theassignee of the instant invention that disclose the anchoring of thehousing to the base of a needle. In U.S. patents RE37,110, RE37,252 andU.S. Pat. No. 6,328,713, there is disclosed the mating of an anchor atthe base to an opening at the housing. Although feasible, it has beenfound that such embodiment entails the need for an anchor that has to beof a given length, as well as an opening that has to be well defined.Moreover, the portion of the housing where the opening is to be providedhas to be sufficiently thin so as to provide the flexibility thatenables the anchor to first pierce through and then be anchored to theopening. Further, with the anchor piercing through the housing, giventhat contaminated blood may well be splattered to the anchor as thehousing closes over the contaminated needle, there may be a chance thatcontaminated fluid from the needle may be exposed on the backside of thehousing where the anchor protrudes. Furthermore, such anchor basedneedle protection device is difficult to implement with a hook mechanisminside the housing, as the contact between the anchor and the opening atthe housing would conflict with the retention of the needle by a hook inthe housing, as exemplified by the aforenoted U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,842.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention safety needle device has a locking mechanism thathas one portion extending from the back wall of the housing and anotherportion extending from the base in such a way that when the housing ispivoted toward the base to cover the needle that extends from the base,the portions of the catch mechanism would couple together to fixedlyretain the housing and the base relative to each other. One portion ofthe catch mechanism is configured to have two fingers closing in on aslot through which the other portion of the catch mechanism, in the formof an elongated anchor or projection, snaps into and be held by thefingers. The two portions of the catch mechanism are designed such thatthey would matingly couple at substantially the same time as the needleis clasped and be retained by an integral hook in the housing. Thisconfiguration ensures that a single pivoting movement of the housingrelative to the base would enable the hook in the housing to fixedlyretain the needle and at the same time enable the housing and the basebe fixedly retained relative to each other. Two flaps each extendingfrom a side wall of the housing prevent further access to the portionsof the catch mechanism once those portions are coupled to each other.Each portion in turn may be considered a catch mechanism so that thesafety device of the instant invention may be considered to have twocoacting catch mechanisms.

The safety needle device of the instant invention is formed from thesame mold such that the housing, the base, the portions of the catchmechanism as well as the hook, are integrally formed as a single unitaryunit. The needle is fitted to the distal end of the base while theproximal end of the base is configured to be adaptable to a syringe orother medical apparatus for either withdrawing fluid from or ejectingmedication to a patient. The needle that is attached to the base of thesafety device of the instant invention may be of different gauges. Tosignify the gauge of the needle, the housing and the base of the safetydevice are color coded to a given color that has been predetermined tocorrespond to that given needle gauge.

The instant invention is therefore a needle assembly that has a basehaving a needle extending therefrom along a longitudinal axis thereof, ahousing pivotally connected to the base with two side walls connected bya back wall, one portion of a catch or lock mechanism extends from theback wall so as to couple to another portion of the catch mechanism thatextends from the base, so that once the portions of the catch mechanismare coupled to each other, the housing and the base are fixedly retainedrelative to each other, with the needle being covered by the housing.

The instant invention also relates to a one-piece needle assembly orsafety device that is adaptable to be used with a syringe, with therespective portions of the catch mechanism being provided at the baseand the housing per discussed above.

The instant invention further relates to a one-piece needle assembly orsafety device that has a base having a needle extending therefrom alonga longitudinal axis, a housing pivotally connected to the base andhaving two side walls connected by a back wall, a pair of adjacent firstcatches that extend from the back wall, a rib extending from the baseorthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a pair of second catches thatprotrude from the rib, so that when the housing is pivoted towards thebase to cover the needle, each of the first catches would mate with acorresponding one of the second catches to fixedly retain the housingand the base relative to each other. One pair of the pairs of first andsecond catches may be loops while the other pair may be bosses orfingers that the loops would snap over when the housing pivots towardsand covers the needle.

The instant invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a safetydevice or a needle assembly that is matable with a syringe, with thesafety device having a housing and a base pivotally connected to eachother. The housing has a back wall and two sidewalls together that forma slot through which the needle of the needle assembly passes when thehousing is pivoted towards the base to cover the needle. The methodcomprises the steps of extending one catch mechanism from the back wallof the housing and providing another catch mechanism at a location atthe base that would ensure that the one and other catch mechanisms arenon-removably interlocked to each other when the housing is pivoted tocover the needle. The method of the instant invention also provides forthe extending of a rib from the base in a direction facing the housingand the providing of a boss at each side of the rib, and a pair of loopsprovided as the catch mechanism that extends from the back wall of thehousing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will become apparent and the invention itself willbe best understood with reference to the following description of thepresent invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the safety device of the instantinvention in a free standing position, with the housing beingcross-sectioned;

FIG. 2 is a view of the safety device of the instant invention, with thehousing being shown in cross-section, as the housing and the base of thedevice are moved relatively towards each other;

FIG. 3 shows the device in a fully actuated position with the lockingsnaps of the catch mechanism engaged.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the device of the instantinvention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the safety device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the safety device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows the view at cross-section A-A of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of detail A as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the instant invention safety device thathas an alternative catch mechanism at the base of the device;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail of the alternative catch mechanism;

FIG. 11 is another embodiment of the instant invention safety device inwhich alternative catch mechanisms are provided at the base and thehousing of the device;

FIG. 12 illustrates the safety device of FIG. 11 in which the housinghas been coupled to the base, with the catch mechanisms interlocked;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the FIG. 13 safety device;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the FIG. 13 safety device;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail of the catch mechanism at the base of thesafety device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged detail of the other catch mechanism of the safetydevice of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the catch mechanism at the housing of thesafety device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the interlocking of the catchmechanisms of the safety device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a syringe having connected theretoanother embodiment of the needle assembly of the instant invention;

FIG. 21 is a partially cut-away perspective view the embodiment of theneedle assembly of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 22 is a partial sectional view of the needle assembly of FIG. 21showing a catch mechanism extending from the back wall of the housingmated to a catch mechanism provided at the rib of the base that facesthe housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, the safety device of the instantinvention is a needle assembly that has a base 2 and a housing 4pivotally connected to the base by a living hinge 6. A needle 8 isadaptable to be fitted to the distal portion 10 of base 2. Needle 8 maybe molded to the distal end 12 of base 2, or may be fitted thereto afterthe safety device has been removed from the mold. The proximal portion14 of base 2 is configured to have a cavity that is adaptable to matewith a syringe, or other fluid storing devices, not shown. A luerconnector 16 is provided at base 2.

There are a number of extensions, or ribs, 18 a-18 c provided at thedistal portion 10 of base 2. There is moreover a catch mechanism 20 thatextends from distal portion 10 of base 2 at a location facing housing 4.Catch mechanism 20 may be considered as one portion of an overall catchor locking mechanism, as explained below.

Housing 4 is connected to base 2 via living hinge 6. Housing 4 has twosidewalls 22 connected by a back wall 24. A slot or passage 26 forhousing 4 is defined by sidewalls 22. It is through passage 26 thatneedle 8 passes when housing 4 and base 2 are pivoted relative to eachother, as shown in FIG. 2.

Extending from back wall 24 is a second catch or locking mechanism 28that includes two grasping fingers 30. An opening 32 is configuredbetween the grasping fingers 30. As best shown in FIG. 5 and thecross-sectional view in FIG. 7, each of the fingers 30 is configured tofold inward per its fingertip 34. The space defined by the fingers 30 isdimensioned to accommodate catch mechanism 20 at base 2 of the device,as best shown in FIGS. 5 and the enlarged view thereof in FIG. 8.

Catch mechanism 20 for the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is in the form ofan anchor or a projection that extends longitudinally along the distalportion 10 of base 2. Anchor 20 has a front surface 35 and two arrowshaped extensions 36. As the front surfaces 36A of the extensions 36 areinclined at an angle, when catch mechanism 20 meets with catch mechanism28, the anchor extensions 36 would readily coact with the slant inwardtips of fingers 30 to thereby readily engage with those fingers. Theback surfaces 36 b of catch mechanism 20 and the inwards folding fingertips 34 of catch mechanism 30 coact to prevent catch mechanism 20 andcatch mechanism 30 from being removed from each other, thereby securelyand non-removably coupling housing 4 to base 2. Thus, as best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, when housing 4 and base 2 are pivoted relative to eachother, as catch mechanism 20 at base 2 meets catch mechanism 28 athousing 4, catch mechanism 20 would snap into catch mechanism 30 so thatboth catch mechanisms interlock with each other, as best shown in FIG.3. As discussed previously, catch mechanisms 20 and 28 may each beconsidered a portion of an overall catch or interlocking mechanism ofthe safety device of the instant invention.

Each of the sidewalls 22 has an extension 38 at its proximal portion.Together the side extensions 38 provide a protective environment forcatch mechanism 28 that extends from the back wall 24 of housing 4. Whencatch mechanism 28 is interlocked with catch mechanism 20 as housing 4is pivoted toward base 2 and covers needle 8, the side extensions 38 ofhousing 4 would prevent further access to the interlocked catchmechanisms to thereby impede any attempt to remove housing 4 from base2.

Also integrated to housing 4 is a hook mechanism 40 that acts to claspneedle 8, when housing 4 is pivoted toward base 4 to cover needle 8.Hook 40 fixedly retains needle 8, once needle 8 snaps past the lipportion of hook 4 and is retained by the backside of the lip of hook 40.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the placement of hook mechanism 40 and catchmechanism 28, as well as the extension of those mechanisms from the backwall 24 of housing 4, are such that when housing 4 and base 2 arerelatively pivoted toward each other, both needle 8 and catch mechanism20 would make contact at substantially the same time with hook mechanism40 and catch mechanism 28, respectively, so that both needle 8 and base4 are secured to housing 4 at substantially the same time. By providinga combined interlocking of the needle and the base to the back wall ofhousing 4, needle 8 is ensured to be securely covered by housing 4 andnot be re-exposed to the environment.

By providing catch mechanisms that extend from the back wall of thehousing and from the base, and further configuring catch mechanism 20 toextend longitudinally along the distal portion of base 2, the couplingof housing 4 to base 2 is ensured to be more secured, as the coupling ofhousing 4 and base 2 is effected by the interlocking of the catchmechanisms as well as the clasping of needle 8 by hook 40. Thus, byeffecting two catch points from the back wall of the housing, i.e., theinterlocking of the catch mechanisms and the clasping of the needle bythe hook, the housing is more securely held to the base to therebyensure that the needle is securely covered. Further, by preventingaccess to the interlocked catch mechanisms, needle 8 could not beunlatched from hook 40.

Base 2 and housing 4, as well as the catch mechanisms 20 and 28 and hook40, are formed as an integral unitary unit from the same mold. It may,for example, be injection molded.

Prior to use, needle 8 may be covered by a sheath, not shown, that fitsover distal portion 10 of base 2. Further, the safety device of theinstant invention may be molded or fitted with a number of differentneedles each having a different gauge. For the instant invention needleassembly, depending on the gauge of the needle fitted to the base, thesafety device may be color coded to a predetermined color so that,without looking at needle 8 which is covered by the sheath, a user canreadily ascertain the gauge of the needle. Thus, the molded one-pieceunit of the safety device of the instant invention is color coded tohave a predetermined color that signifies the gauge of the particularneedle that is attached to its base. A more detailed discussion of suchcolor coding of the needle to the body of the device is provided inapplication Ser. No. 10/751,982 having filing date of Jan. 7, 2004. Thedisclosure of the '982 application is incorporated by reference herein.

An alternative embodiment of the catch mechanism at the base of thesafety device is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The difference between thedevice shown in FIG. 9 and that shown in FIGS. 1-8 is the configurationof the anchor or projection 20′. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 10,catch mechanism 20′ has a front surface 20′ that is curved, in contrastto the inclined side surfaces 36 a of catch mechanism 20, as shown inFIG. 8. Furthermore, the back surfaces 20′b of projection 20′ are notinwardly angled. The configuration of the tips of the respective fingers30 could be adjusted to ensure that those fingertips could fixedly grasponto the respective back surfaces 20′b, once the head of projection 20′is moved between the fingers and passed the fingertips. Like theprevious embodiment, catch mechanisms 30 and 20′ make contactsubstantially at the same time as hook 40 makes contact with the needle,not shown, that extends from the distal end 10 of base 2.

The catch mechanisms for the safety device shown in FIGS. 11-15 aredifferent from those shown earlier. Specifically, the catch mechanismextending from the back wall 24 of housing 4 is configured in the formof a hook 42, as best shown by the enlarged detail illustration of FIG.17. There it can be seen that hook 42 has an extension 42 a and a tip 42b. Coacting with hook 42, at the distal portion 10 of base 2 of thesafety device, is a latch in the form of a rib 44 that extendssubstantially longitudinally along the length of the distal portion 10of base 2. An opening 46 is provided in rib 44. It is through opening 46that the tip 42 b of hook 42 latches onto, when housing 4 and base 2 aremoved relatively toward each other. As best shown in the fully actuatedposition of FIG. 19, when hook 42 is interlocked with rib 44, housing 4and base 2 of the safety device are fixedly retained relative to eachother. FIG. 12 shows the fingertip 42 b of hook 42 extending throughopening 46 of rib 44, to thereby firmly latch onto rib 44. FIG. 12 alsoshows needle 8 being grasped by hook 40. Thus, a double hook safetydevice is effectuated by the embodiment of the safety device shown inFIGS. 11-15.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of housing 4, which is shown to have been pivotedaway from base 2. In this view, both hooks 40 and 42 are clearly shown.The same is true with respect to the side view of the safety deviceshown in FIG. 15, where rib 44, and its opening 46, are clearly shown.The enlarged detail of the latch rib is shown in FIG. 16. Thecross-sectional view A-A of the FIG. 13 safety device is shown in FIG.18. As was noted previously, the fully actuated safety device wherebythe catch mechanisms at the housing and base are fully interlocked isshown in FIG. 19.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 20-22.Elements for this embodiment that are same as the earlier embodimentsare labeled the same.

In particular, the needle assembly of FIG. 20 is shown to have beenmatingly connected to a syringe 50. Similar to the earlier embodiments,the safety device or needle assembly of FIG. 20 has a housing 4 hingedlyconnected to a base 2. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, base 2 has aproximal end 14 and a distal end 10. At the distal portion of the needleassembly there are a number of ribs or extensions 50 a-50 d that extendfrom base 2. At rib 50 a, which extends orthogonally from thelongitudinal axis of base 2 (as defined by needle 8) to face housing 4as housing 4 is pivoted towards base 2, there are provided at the planarsides of rib 50 a two fingers or bosses 52 a and 52 b. As best shown inFIG. 22, bosses 52 each are configured to have a finger portion forgrasping and fixedly retaining a corresponding loop or ring 54 a and 54b that extend from the back wall 24 of housing 4, when housing 4 ispivoted to cover needle 8. For the embodiment of FIGS. 20-22, the loops54 a and 54 b may be considered as one catch mechanism or catches whilebosses 52 a and 52 may be considered as another catch mechanism orcatches. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, loops 54 a and 54 b extend fromback wall 24 of housing 4 in an adjacent fashion leaving a space 56therebetween. Space 56 is configured to be of a given width so that, asloops 54 a and 54 b coactingly mate with bosses 52 a and 52 b,respectively, rib 50 a is sandwiched by loops 54 a and 54 b.

In addition to providing rigidity, the multiple ribs 50 are configuredto allow the open end of a needle protection sheath 60 that coversneedle 8 prior to use to be frictionally fitted thereabout.

Further provided as part of housing 4 in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-22are a pair of partition walls, or simply partitions 58, that also extendfrom back wall 24 of housing 4. Each of partitions 58 is interposedbetween one of the loops 54 and one of the sidewalls 22 of housing 4. Asshown in FIG. 22, once the loops 54 snap over and are secured to therespective bosses 52 and needle 8 is covered by housing 4, the frontedge of each of the partitions 58 would either come into-contact with,or be in very close proximity to, respective ribs 50 b and 50 d, so thatthe engaged or interlocked bosses/loops are prevented from beingaccessed, and possibly tampered with. This is a safety measure that isin addition to the previously discussed segments 58 of the sidewalls ofthe housing being used to preclude someone from accessing the catchmechanisms, after the catch mechanisms have been mated to securelyretain housing 4 and base 2 relative to each other.

As with the other embodiments, a mechanism such as a hook 40 isintegrated in housing 4 for grasping needle 8, when housing 4 is pivotedtowards base 2 to cover needle 8. Hook 40 and the respective boss andloop catch mechanisms are designed such that hook 40 would come intocontact with and grasp needle 8 at substantially the same time thatloops 54 snap over and are secured to bosses 52.

As with the other embodiments previously disclosed, the needle assemblyof FIGS. 20 to 22 may be made as an integral unit and may be color codedto different predetermined colors for signifying the different gauges ofneedles that may extend from the needle assembly.

1. A needle assembly, comprising: a base having a needle extendingtherefrom along a longitudinal axis thereof; a housing pivotallyconnected to said base, said housing having two sidewalls connected by aback wall; a pair of adjacent first catches extending from said backwall; a rib extending from said base orthogonal to the longitudinalaxis; and a pair of second catches protruding from said rib; whereineach of said first catches mates with a corresponding one of said secondcatches to fixedly retain said housing and said base relative to eachother when said housing is pivoted towards said base to cover theneedle.
 2. Needle assembly of claim 1, wherein said rib is sandwiched bysaid first catches when said second catches are respectively mated tosaid first catches.
 3. Needle assembly of claim 1, wherein one pair ofsaid pairs of said first and second catches being loops and the other ofsaid pairs of said first and second catches being bosses, and whereineach of said loops snaps over and secure to a corresponding one of saidbosses when said housing pivots toward and covers said needle.
 4. Needleassembly of claim 1, further comprising: a pair of partitions extendingfrom said back wall of said housing, each partition interposed betweenone of the sidewalls and a corresponding one of said first catches sothat said first catches are sandwiched by said partitions which in turnare sandwiched by said side walls.
 5. Needle assembly of claim 1,wherein said base comprises a plurality of ribs together adapted tofrictionally accept a proximal portion of a sheath that covers theneedle prior to the needle being used.
 6. Needle assembly of claim 1,wherein said housing further comprises a hook mechanism for grasping theneedle at approximately the same time that said bosses mate respectivelywith said catches.
 7. Needle assembly of claim 1, wherein said base ismatable to a syringe.
 8. A one piece needle assembly adaptable to beused with a syringe, comprising: a base having pivotally connectedthereto a housing, said housing having a back wall and a pair ofadjacent first catch mechanisms extending from the back wall that meetwith a pair of second catch mechanisms extending from a rib extendingfrom said base when said housing is pivoted toward said base to cover aneedle extending longitudinally from said base, said first and secondpairs of catch mechanisms interlocked to each other to prevent saidhousing and said base from moving away from each other when said needleis covered by said housing.
 9. Needle assembly of claim 8, wherein eachof said first catch mechanisms comprises a loop and wherein each of saidsecond catch mechanisms comprises a boss, said each boss matinglycoacting with a corresponding said each loop when said housing ispivoted towards said base.
 10. Needle assembly of claim 8, wherein saidrib is sandwiched by said pair of first catch mechanisms when said firstcatch mechanisms are interlocked with said second pair of catchmechanisms.
 11. Needle assembly of claim 8, further comprising: a pairof partitions extending from said back wall of said housing, eachpartition interposed between one of the sidewalls and a correspondingone of said first catch mechanisms so that said pair of first catchmechanisms are sandwiched by said pair of partitions.
 12. Needleassembly of claim 8, further comprising a hook extending from said backwall for clasping said needle when said housing is moved to cover saidneedle, said hook clasping said needle at substantially the same timethat said first pair of catch mechanisms interlock with said second pairof catch mechanisms.
 13. Needle assembly of claim 8, wherein saidhousing and said base are molded as a single unit, said housing and saidbase being color coded a predetermined color that signifies to the gaugeof the needle.
 14. A method of preventing exposure of a needle after usefor a safety device adaptable to mate with a syringe at its proximal endand having fitted to its distal end the needle, said safety deviceincluding a housing and a base pivotally connected to each other, saidhousing having a back wall and two sidewalls together forming a slotthrough which the needle passes when said housing is pivoted toward saidbase to cover the needle, the method comprising the steps of: a)extending one catch mechanism from said back wall; and b) providing another catch mechanism at said base at a location that ensures said oneand other catch mechanisms are non-removably interlocked to each otherwhen said housing is pivoted to cover the needle.
 15. Method of claim14, further comprising the steps of: extending a rib from said base inthe direction facing said housing when said housing is pivoted towardssaid base; and providing said other catch mechanism at said rib. 16.Method of claim 15, wherein said one catch mechanism comprises a pair ofadjacent loops and wherein said other catch mechanism comprises a pairof bosses, the method further comprising the steps of: providing a bossat each side of said rib; and extending said pair of loops from saidback wall; wherein when said housing is pivoted to cover the needle,each of said loops snaps over a corresponding one of said bosses and beinterlocked therewith, said rib being sandwiched by said loops aftersaid respective loops are interlocked to said bosses.
 17. Method ofclaim 14, further comprising the step of: providing a proximal extensionto each of said sidewalls to prevent access to said catch mechanismsonce said catch mechanisms interlock to couple said housing and saidbase to each other.
 18. Method of claim 14, further comprising the stepsof: extending a pair of partitions from said back wall of said housing;positioning said partitions between the sidewalls of said housing sothat said one and other catch mechanisms are sandwiched by said pair ofpartitions when said housing pivots to cover the needle.
 19. Method ofclaim 14, further comprising the steps of; molding said housing and saidbase as a single unit; and color coding said housing and said base apredetermined color that signifies the gauge of the needle.
 20. Methodof claim 14, further comprising the step of: extending a hook from saidback wall for non-removably clasping said needle when said housing ismoved to cover said needle, said hook clasping said needle atsubstantially the same time that said one and other catch mechanisms areinterlocked to each other.